Special Operations Forces Medical Handbook

6-6

NOTES:

1. A Diving Medical Officer shall be
   consulted before committing to a
   Treatment Table 4 or 7.


2. Treatment Table 6A may be
   extended if necessary at 60 and/or
   under 30 feet.


3. Cardiac arrest requires Advanced
   Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). For
   the greatest chance of resuscita-
   tion, consultation with a Diving
   Medical Officer is required as
   soon as possible (see paragraph
   20-2.6).


4. Recompression chamber must be
   surfaced to perform defibrillation.


5. Assessment of patient must be
   made within 20 minutes. If the
   stricken diver remains pulseless
   after 20 minutes, termination of
   resuscitation may be considered.


6. Additional time may be required
   according to paragraph 21-5.4.5.4.


7. Enter Treatment Table 6A at depth
   of relief or significant
   improvement.

Figure 6-1: Treatment of Arterial Gas Embolism

or Decompression Sickness

Diagnosis:

Arterial Gas

Embolism or

Decompression

Sickness

Pulse present?

Compress to 60

feet. Commence

oxygen breathing

at 60 feet.

Unchanged or

worsening

symptoms

(Note 5)

Compress on air
to depth of relief
or significant
improvement not
to exceed 165 fsw.

Remain at

treatment depth

not to exceed 90

min. total.

Remain at 60

feet at least 12

hours (Note 6)

Decompress on

Table 4 to 60 feet

Life

threatening

symptoms and

more time needed

at 60 feet?

(Note 1)

ACLS

capabilities

available within

20 min.

(Note 3)

Consider use

of ACLS and Table

6 in accordance

with paragraph

20-2.6. (Note 4)

Complete 30 min.

period breathing air

or treatment gas on

Table 6A (Note 7)

More

time

needed at depth

of relief?

(Note 1)

Decompress to 60

feet not greater

than 1 foot per

minute. Complete

Treatment Table

6A (Note 2)

Complete treatment

on Table 6

Complete Table 4

(Note 1)

Decompress on

Table 7 (Note 1)

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

No

Yes